Page 74 of Glad You Exist

"I can't stay, the rest of the team is waiting for us out on the field. I'll talk to you guys later."

He looks at me quickly, "Your mom was on fire in there…but good luck. She's not happy with any of us."

Giving Kim another quick kiss, he tells her he'll call her, and he jogs to catch up with Coach.

I start to get up, but Kim places a hand on my knee. She tips her head over to where my mom and Hunter's Mom are talking to each other in hushed whispers.

Mom has her hand firmly on Liz’s shoulder. Liz still hasn't looked up, her arms crossed in front of her. I can tell she’s fighting the urge to bolt. She lightly sways back and forth on her heels, her backpack thumping slightly with her movements.

Hunter unabashedly stares at Liz in a way that makes me want to punch his face, if it weren't for our current audience and the fast track to the principal’s office.

But mostly I restrain myself because I promised Liz, I wouldn’t fight him. But fuck, I really want to ream his pretty face in and see how he likes being manhandled.

"Don't." Kim grumbles under her breath but her hands are flexing like she’s thinking the same thing I am.

Good. Maybe she can take a swing at him for both of us.

Her mom isn’t here. She didn’t promise Liz anything.

But neither of us do. We sit and wait silently as the adults finish up their conversation.

With a final nod to my mom, Hunter's mom leans in as if wanting to hug Liz, prompting Liz to take a step back. Liz slightly raises her head to acknowledge the older woman politely but declines her attempt.

Hunter’s mom looks distressed but doesn’t push it as she hooks an arm around her son, practically dragging him out in the same direction Kyle and Coach went.

“Guess we know where he got it from.” Kim murmurs.

I can’t help it, I snort.

Liz’s head snaps up and our gazes lock. A slow smile of relief spreads on her face.

But I inadvertently got Mom’s attention too and the ice-cold look she’s leveling at me gives Elsa a run for her money.

“Shit. Okay that’s my cue to go beforemymom looks at me like that too.”

Kim grabs her backpack from the floor and gets up. She pats me on the head, getting close enough to whisper, “For what it’s worth I think the way Liz is looking at you right now is worth the way Aunt Rose is glaring. Good luck Bradley.”

Kim hastily waves a goodbye to Liz and Mom then speed-walks away.

Stifling a groan, I get up too and meet them halfway.

I lean in, kissing Mom on the cheek, ignoring the ice in her eyes.

“Hi Mom.”

“Hmmm.”

Yup. Still mad.

I choose to ignore it and just face her wrath later, turning my attention to Liz.

“Are you okay, El?”

Liz’s opens her mouth to respond but Mom cuts her off.

“I have to go but I expect both of you at dinner. Five sharp. Wewilltalk about this later.”

Mom pats Liz’s cheek tenderly, “I’m proud of you. You were brave in there.”

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